Confused about breast reconstruction?

I sure was. At the time of my mastectomy in 2003, I decided on delayed reconstruction and am very glad that I did. There were so many ways it could be done, and I didn’t want to make the “wrong” choice.

Eventually, I met with four plastic surgeons, cancelled two surgeries and finally found an amazing procedure that I had performed recently at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. It’s called the DIEP flap (short for “deep inferior epigastric perforator flap”). Tummy fat and skin is removed and used to mold a new breast at the mastectomy site through microsurgery. This results in a tummy tuck but no abdominal muscles are sacrificed, and you end up with a firm-looking new breast. (The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute Web sites have more information on the different types of breast reconstruction.)

Since I tested positive for the BRCA2 gene, I also opted for prophylactic removal of my other breast. My tummy was used for both breasts, and the exciting part is that my newly removed breast has been reconstructed with minimal scarring. The DIEP flap may not be the right choice for everyone, but I think it will be good for me.

And I am excited to have two real breasts!

I will keep you informed of how things are going during the healing process. I need to return in a few months for cosmetic touch-ups so I am looking forward to the final result.

Did you feel similar confusion about breast reconstruction? I’m curious about your experiences.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathy-Ellen Kups, RN

Kathy-Ellen is a Registered Nurse living in Michigan. In 2003, Kathy-Ellen was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She was cancer-free from April 2004 until December of 2013 when it was discovered that...read more

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